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Expect More Alcoa Forged Passenger Wheel OE Deals in 2009

Aluminium giant Alcoa has been producing premium forged commercial vehicle wheels for a decade now. And despite some new manufacturers recently joining the forged wheel scene in the Far East, the company remains an undisputed market leader in its field. Now, following the news that Alcoa is to close its last remaining cast aluminium wheel factory (in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA), it is not surprising to learn that this part of the business is now focusing on transferring its forged wheel technology to the passenger car OE market.

In an interview conducted at the tail end of 2008 David Yates (marketing manager, Europe, Alcoa Wheel Products – Forged Speciality Wheels) and Brian Thomas (marketing communications, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products) explained that after a 24-month long passenger car OE “testing cycle” the first production car to fit its forged wheels was a Shelby tuned version of the Ford Mustang model in the states.

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Europa Tyres Becomes UK OTR Brand Distributor

Europa Tyres has announced that as of 1 January, 2009 that it has become the UK’s (except NI) Official Master Distributor for the OTR brand of tyres.

OTR was set up in 1987 by Fred Taylor in Rome Georgia, where it began to manufacture and distribute wheels and tyres to the Southeast of America. In 1995, the organisation set up another new company called Blackstone, which specialised in the aerial lift industry. Since then, it has expanded with nine new facilities opening worldwide. The manufacturer hopes to become fully world integrated over the next few years, with a programme of investment continuing.

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Soopa Toobs Aiming to Fill the Information Gap

Soopa Toobs, founded in May 1983 and based at its original home in Colliers End, near Ware in Hertfordshire, has restated its desire to “fill the information gap” it perceieves in the agricultural tyre market. The company holds a large range of stock, including tyres from American market leader Carlisle and European stalwart Trelle¬borg, alongside brands such as Bridgestone, Goodyear and Dunlop. In addition, Soopa Toobs says that it stocks the largest range of high-quality inner tubes for implements, tractors, ATVs and more. It is the UK’s exclusive dealer in Carlisle inner tubes, featuring many unusual size fitments.

With this range, Soopa Toobs believes it is well-placed to offer the right tyres for the many specialised jobs taken on by farmers, estate managers, landscapers and groundsmen. The broad range of specialist vehicles and implements at these people’s disposal – enabling them to carry out their work more quickly and more efficiently – are, especially in the current tough economic times, required to perform to the highest possible specification, meaning that these machines’ special wheels require not only an equally varied range of specialist tyres and inner tubes, but also the ability to select the right tool for the job. While a range of factors naturally affect the purchasing decision, the specialist advice Soopa Toobs is able to offer allows the user to choose wisely, rather than solely on the initial purchase price. Utility Vehicles (UTVs) use different tyres to All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and the correct choice of tyre is often as important as the original choice of machine. Soopa Toobs remembers that not too long ago the main choice for pulling anything along was between a tractor and a Land Rover, but the reality of today’s higher technology agricultural market means that a greater awareness of the requirements of vehicles like the John Deere Gator and the Kawasaki Mule is necessary.

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Vogue Tyre Goes ‘Presidential’

The Illinois, US based Vogue Tyre and Rubber Company says it is proud to team up with the new Jaguar XF to mark the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. The company has fitted the Jag, which will be used in Presidential inaugural events, with a set of newly released 20-inch white/gold tyres and wheels.

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Presidential limo rides on Goodyear truck tyres

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President elect Barack Obama’s brand spanking new presidential limousine has been given the ‘Pimp My Ride’ treatment by the US Secret Service – and a set of tyres normally seen in regional haul trucking applications is but one of a basket of features to be found on the modified Cadillac following a masterful makeover by the White House appointed customisers.

Despite campaign promises to transform all White House vehicles into hybrids and have a million hybrid vehicles on US roads by 2015, the President-elect has had to concede to security concerns and stick with the petrol powered Cadillac. Or perhaps he was simply afraid Jeremy Clarkson would heckle him on the next series of Top Gear.

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SEMA Show 2008 – Exemplifying Inspiration and Optimism

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As the world reels from the effects of the global economic slowdown, many may have wondered if this would have had a negative effect on SEMA 2008’s tyres, wheels and equipment section supported by the Tire Industry Association (TIA). As it turned out, while attendance was definitely down, the quality and buying power of attendees was in line with recent shows.

“What we found is that where a buyer might have sent six or seven people in years past – many of whom were not in key decision making positions – this year, they might have only sent two or three people; but they had the authority to make those purchasing decisions,” said TIA executive vice president Roy Littlefield. While Bridgestone has not exhibited at SEMA for a number of years, with the current fiscal conditions being what they are, it was likely that this was a major factor in the decisions of a number of other key players who did not exhibit at this year’s show. While manufacturers such as Michelin and Goodyear had very little, or no, presence at all, there were plenty of other manufacturers who came out in full force, such as Pirelli, Toyo, Yokohama, Cooper, Dunlop, Sumitomo, Hankook and Falken.

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The Days of Simple Tyre Selection are Gone

A few years ago council workers, farmers and private amenity contractors had straight forward requirements. Tractors had two types of tyres, small on the front and larger at the rear. Ride-on mowers were simply attired with rubber. According to Stowmarket-based tyre and wheel supplier, Fieldens, when today’s farmer or fleet manager comes to order tyres, the list of requirements covers several pages. Earlier it was floatation or narrow tyres, today there is the requirement for speed with a high payload, but – “oh yes, we don’t want to sacrifice floatation as we must avoid damage to soil structure and ultimately plant growth.” Fieldens reports that amenity operators face a similar challenge – they need to move quickly from site to site, but then work with heavy equipment on a sensitive sports ground.

Alternatively there is the problem of kerbing and blowing out tyres of ride-on mowers. “What can you do about that – but we’d like some wider tyres at the same time so we can carry on working during bad weather like we’ve had in the past two summers?” Then there’s the spraying contractor carrying increasingly heavy loads. It’s not just the tyres that have to be up to the job but the wheels too – especially if the machine has to work across sidling ground with all the stresses and strains that brings.

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Alcoa Closing its Final Cast Aluminium Wheel Factory

Alcoa has announced it will completely withdraw from the passenger car cast aluminium wheel business, instead focusing its efforts in this segment upon forged aluminium wheels. This completes a trend begun some four years ago; of the four cast aluminium wheel factories operated by Alcoa, three have already been taken out of service.

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Reifen China Opening the Door to New Markets

Following the successful premiere event in 2007, the popular Asian region “Reifen China” exhibition was again held last December. Some 5,600 domestic and international visitors attended the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) between December 4 and 6, 2008, to gain information on the latest products, technologies and services available within the Chinese and worldwide tyre industry. While the fair attracted some two hundred fewer visitors than the 5,800 recorded the previous year, this decline of 3.5 per cent must be viewed in light of the current economic situation, particularly within the tyre industry, and should therefore be interpreted as a very positive result. “Actually I don’t at all want to speak of it as a decline,” commented Klaus Reich, director Trade Fairs and Exhibitions for the show organiser, Messe Essen GmbH, to Tyres & Accessories. The result, he said, was in the economic circumstances, “absolutely good.”

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Dunlop Receives Two Wheel Top Ranking

Dunlop’s Sportmax Roadsmart Motorcycle tyre has been ranked in first position in a Two Wheels Only Magazine tyre test. The tyre was tested in the wet and dry against the latest offerings from Pirelli, Bridgestone, Michelin, and Metzeler at the Millbrook Testing Facility in Bedfordshire.

James Whitham, top tyre tester for TWO and Isle of Man TT, World Supersport and World Superbikes champion shod a Ducati 848 to find the tyre that gave the best feedback and feel, as well as the best performance. “Straight away when you get on these you know that they are good” said James Whitham. “To get confident you need that feeling from a tyre that lets you know you can push all the way to the limit and beyond if you want to, but in complete safety. This is what the Dunlops do.”

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BERU f1systems Develops Infra Red Tyre Heat Sensor

BERU f1systems has developed a high resolution infra-red tyre sensor designed to help optimise vehicle set up and tyre performance in the wake of restricted F1 testing. According to the company, it is the first time a sensor providing temperature and pressure data unaffected by heat soak has been produced by BERU f1systems.

“Tyre temperature sensors are normally fitted to the rim as part of the valve,” says managing director John Bailey. “Heat soak from the rim and brakes distorts results leading to incorrect set up. Our system uses IR sensors to measure the inside temperature of the tyre itself, not just the air temperature.”

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Haweka Opens Gloucestershire Educational Unit

Haweka (UK) Ltd, one of the world’s leading independent manufacturers of wheel alignment and balancing solutions, announced on 10 November the opening of a specialist Wheel Alignment Training Centre in Gloucestershire, UK. The brand new facilities contain a state-of-the-art commercial vehicle MOT bay, lecture room and communal area. Haweka believes that the educational facility will help garage workers to speed up significantly the process of alignment and balancing. It is designed to provide a platform for the company to train UK commercial workshop technicians on the next generation of Haweka’s wheel alignment systems, the TA-20.

Located at Richard Read Transport’s Longhope depot, the new training centre gives Haweka the resources to keep offering tailor-made courses to customers nationwide. The lecture room contains the modern facilities needed to communicate the theoretical side of wheel alignment and how to provide optimal logistical angles, reducing tyre wear and fuel consumption to customers. The communal area is spacious and comfortable allowing course attendees to discuss the theory between themselves and relax during breaks. It overlooks one of two workshops where the practical training sessions will take place.

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Shanghai Baolong Offers Non-Lead Wheel Balancing Weights

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Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corporation is one of the leading manufacturers of non-lead balancing weights in China. It boasts certificated products and names Chinese Ford, Nissan and Volkswagen branches among its customers.

Established in 1998, Shanghai Baolong is a leading manufacturer of wheel balancing weights for automobiles in China. It specializes in producing all types of wheel balance weights, especially non-lead wheel balance weights. The company uses the zinc and steel blend that is more environmentally-friendly and complies with European and U.S. directives. They are designed and produced for vehicles with either steel or alloy wheels, with the same functionality, appearance, and fit characteristics as conventional wheel weights.

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Beissbarth UK Introduces Automatic Wheel Washer

Beissbarth UK is introducing a new easy use Drester W-750 fully automatic wheel washer to their range which cleans in approximately 30 seconds. Additionally, the company showcased its new hope for the future of wheel alignment, the Easy 3D, at the Automechanika Show. Beissbarth believes that the machine will save workshop space, requiring little room in which to work and easy storage capabilities.

The Drester wheel washer gives wheels a low environmental impact wash that aspires to generating a show-room sparkle. The company claims that the relatively short payback time on the machine can also have a similar effect on the balance sheet, boosting profits in a comparatively short space of time.

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Tyre Lover, Allegedly Driven by Desire, Steals Wheels

A North Platte, Nebraska man stands accused of committing an unusual, though perhaps understandable, crime of passion; stealing not the heart of a married woman, but the tyres and rims with which he supposedly “fell so much in love.”

Local news source the North Platte Bulletin describes the courtship of a set of four Hankook tyres mounted on Pacer rims (be still, thine heavy-beating heart, dear reader) by area man, Anthony L Bennett. Witnesses at the TO Haas Tires dealership told investigators looking into the theft that Bennett had been to the store several times to view the wheels. It was clear, they say, that he was something of an admirer.

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